Allie‘s Adventures in Shenzhen - Blog

The End of an Incredible Chapter

7/12/2017

Goodbye China! 再见中国！

The time has finally come. It's time for me to say goodbye to my China chapter. These five years in China (Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen) have been the most incredible, rewarding, and transformative years of my life. I am so grateful to have met such amazing and inspiring friends from around the world who have truly opened my eyes and shaped me in more ways than I even know how to express. Thank you to my Shenzhen family. I love you guys. We did it! #PekingUniversityGraduates

我爱你们！Thank you for being my Shenzhen family!

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Happy New Year from Hong Kong!

1/29/2017

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HAPPY YEAR OF THE ROOSTER!
新年快乐！恭喜发财！

Shenzhen is completely empty at the moment. During the Chinese New Year (CNY), everyone returns home to be with their families - to share a huge family-style feast, make dumplings ("bao jiaozi" 包饺子), and exchange red envelopes with money ("hong bao" 红包)...These are just a few typical CNY traditions. Given that Shenzhen is such a new city and very few people are actually from Shenzhen, the city becomes a ghost town for about two weeks. Literally. Everything is shut down.

Shenzhen is not exactly the best place to come if you're looking to participate in CNY festivities. Therefore, I crossed the border to Hong Kong for a bit more action and excitement. Not only did I get to see fireworks with my friends at Victoria Harbor, but I also got to see my mom's cousin Robin and her husband John for some afternoon tea in Mongkok (the heart of Kowloon in Hong Kong). Nothing beats seeing family on my side of the world! It was such a fantastic treat to see them both.

If you haven't yet gotten the chance to celebrate the CNY, it's not too late to eat some dumplings and wish your Chinese friends "xin nian kuai le!" 新年快乐 ("Happy New Year" in Mandarin). Bonus points if you give them a red envelope.

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A Collection of "China Moments"

12/22/2016

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#China Moments
我爱中国！

Wherever you live for an extended period of time, the local culture gradually becomes your new “normal”. When I lived in Brooklyn, for instance, watching extremely impressive break-dancers hang and flip off the overhead poles on the moving metro during my evening commute on the J train was just part of my day. Totally normal. In fact, sometimes I wouldn't even look up from my book.

Yet, if a Chinese classmate came to visit me in Brooklyn and witnessed such an event, he/she would likely snap a photo to show family and friends back home what goes down on the NYC subway. I think we can all agree that cultures around the world have different notions of “normal.”

That being said, having lived in China for five years, my perception of “normal” has drastically shifted. Whether that's good or bad, who knows. It just has. When I first arrived in Beijing in 2010, I might have freaked out at ducks hanging from a restaurant window. That’s totally normal now.

Although my idea of normal has done a major 180 , I tend to forget that my family and friends back home share a very different normal than I do in China. Therefore, for the past several weeks, I decided to intentionally carry out my days with heightened awareness and collect a series of “China moments” that capture “normal daily life” in Shenzhen.

If any of my Chinese friends can do a better job at explaining these #ChinaMoments, feel free to send me an email! As always, I would love to hear your views :)

I hope you enjoy my collection!

1. A new "Western-style" restaurant just opened in the mall near me. I think I'll order the "Charcoal snowflake cover on brain" or perhaps the "Charcoal burning snow cowboy bone"...Hard decision. What about you?

2. I went to buy some leisure-athletic shoes today. New Balances are generally pretty comfy, well, when they're not fake. Notice anything special about these NB sneaks? Real or fake? ;)

3. Not really sure what's going on here...Your guess is as good as mine. Take away church food? Or take away OR church food? Other ideas? Didn't realize doggie bags were allowed at church, good to know. China friends, I would love your help here...

4. Just a typical Monday morning walk to the metro when I passed a man giving a speech...beside a can full of flames. Next thing I know, I am breathing in lots of smoke. Applauses broke out. I'm still confused.

5. ANYTHING can be carried on the back of a wagon or bike in China. People, garbage, blankets, food, animals, mail, home appliances, balloons...You name it, I've seen it. #MadSkills

6. That's me just happily chilling at nearby Shigu Shan Park. Catching some rays on a sunny day. Oh yes, I am being photographed from a drone flying overhead.

7. So...what's the point of a garbage can, again? Please explain.

8. China loves piles of stuff. Everywhere.

Street art.

It's 80 degrees outside in Shenzhen. Translation: It's time to sell puffy winter coats!

Nah, I totally get it though. My cold tolerance has gone way downhill. I bought a portable heater when it turned 70 degrees. Um, how the heck did I ever go to college in Upstate New York? Beats me.

Laundry hangs everywhere and anywhere. Even the highway. Oh, and it never dries because we live in a humid sub-tropical climate. Thus, it's always hanging. Never drying.

Safety? What's that? Enough said.

Fresh food alert! Which fish do you want for dinner? You can choose. Just some fish swimming outside of a local restaurant patiently waiting to be selected for din din.

We keep our streets squeaky clean in Shenzhen. NO LEAVES allowed!

This is how the cool kids get to work in the morning... Mom & dad, my birthday is coming up...Just giving you some present ideas.

This security guard doesn't appear too stoked about their heated game. Maybe he feels excluded. Or perhaps he is playing the winner?

Street games are everywhere. #Community

World's best child jungle gym. I wish they had this in the West Hartford mall when I was growing up. I would have never left.

It's located inside of a high-end luxury shopping mall down the street. Parents go shop, your kids will be busy for a while...

So, does this mean my school doesn't want their teachers and students to stay safe? Kidding kidding.

Outdoor nail salon. Street manicures, anyone? No better way to feel beautiful and pampered...

Snacking on some sugar cane. I suppose it's healthier than a Twinkie.

Sizzling Sichuan-style chili oil quail eggs for an afternoon snack. Any takers?

Is this oil or soap in my soup? I can't really tell. Maybe it's both?

I ordered scrambbled eggs with scallions. It came mixed with stones (as in rocks or pebbles). No, those are not potatoes. They are ROCKS. Anyone have any ideas? I have no answers.

P.S. This one isn't actually very "normal". First time I've eaten rocks for dinner. (China friends, have you ever experienced this?)

Ran past these heads dumped on the street while on a rainy morning run. I had nightmares all week.

P.P.S. This is also not too normal...

The huge new fancy grocery store that just opened near me really mastered their signage. On point.

Yes, this one is very normal. I feel more at home now.

These ladies' job is to make sure people wait to cross the street until the traffic light turns red. Thank you. Much appreciated. But, actually.

Note: Crossing the street here can be real rough.

Siesta time can take place anywhere and at any time in China. Even in a wagon on the sidewalk.

This is not homelessness.

This is just a peaceful afternoon snooze because he probably had a late night. I support that. #Priorities

Clutter galore.

I had a slight migraine just taking this blog pic. Can I help them do a little zenning, pretty please?

Young love <3 <3 <3

(Not really a "China moment", but I just thought it was cute...)

Seriously, why have daycare when we can all just play together in the middle of the street?

Grandpa sure is having fun! #TheGoodLife

China sells matcha green tea AND lemon flavored Dove bars.

Get with the program, America!

A mountain of lychees. My idea of heaven.

Yum.

(Actually, these are called "longyan" which means "dragon eye" because that's what they look like...kind of. They are in the lychee family though. Fun fact for you...)

I haven't been sleeping very well at my apartment lately due to this construction directly outside of my building.

It begins at 7am every day (no exceptions) and sounds like drills are going straight into my bedroom wall.

Fun times.

Sorry, I had to. Snapchat had an appropriate "China Moment" filter today. Don't judge.

Am I the cutest Hello Kitty you've ever seen? ;)

So...Have I convinced you all to come visit me in China yet?

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Lost in a Village on my Morning Run

12/17/2016

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Help, Where am I?
我在哪儿？

This morning didn’t quite go as planned. I had intended to take a quick 20-minute jog around the base of nearby Shigu Mountain Park 石鼓山公园, only ten minutes from my apartment. With the help of Google Maps’ little blue dot, navigating my running routes is nearly effortless. That is, of course, if the little blue dot is behaving.

Good thing the running endorphins put me in a positive mood, because panic suddenly set in as my little blue dot decided to peace out. Where did it go, you ask?

Well, I forget how phone plans work in the USA, but I pay for my 4G cellular data using my Wechat Wallet. Using the wallet feature on Wechat, you can click “mobile top up” and, voila, RMB is instantaneously added to your phone and 4G data is magicly at your disposal. Mid-run, however, not only did I run out of cellular data (perfect timing, right?), but my Wechat wallet was also empty. Ummm…What happens then?

Your phone is only useful as a camera and you take lots of blog pics for your wonderful friends and family. And you get really lost.

Blue dot?! Come back!

The man looking at me can clearly tell I am lost and confused...He just stares. So, naturally, I take a blog pic ;)

I ran around in circles completely lost in a maze of narrow streets for nearly three hours. I was so close to home, yet so disoriented. Lesson learned, I should not rely so heavily on my blue dot in the future.

Okay, to be honest, I could have easily hopped in a cab or moped taxi and headed home. I know my address. It really wasn’t the end of the world (I’m just being overly dramatic). I chose to let myself get lost because running through these unfamiliar streets really made me feel like I was in China. When you’re constantly surrounded by KFC, Haagen-Dazs, international students, and neon-lit modern skyscrapers, it’s easy to forget that you live across the globe. Today was a nice reminder that I live in CHINA. This new village I discovered was a nice contrast to the modern skyscrapers quickly taking over the city.

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Shenzhen's Second Annual Craft Beer Fest

12/10/2016

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Shenzhen's Second Annual Craft Beer Fest! 干杯！

On November 11th, Shenzhen’s second annual craft beer festival came to my neighborhood! While I am not the biggest beer drinker (more of a wine / cocktail / cider kind of gal), the fest was loads of fun.

The festival took place in Shenzhen’s SoFun Land, a brand new contemporary art terminal that decided to pop up, seemingly overnight. Yep, that’s how things work around here. Buildings (and entire villages) come and go in the blink of an eye. Literally. In some (most) cities, art terminals gradually develop over time in a more organic fashion. Not where I live.

If you’ve ever been to Beijing’s 798 art district, it appears that SoFun Land’s objective is to bring a version of 798 to Shenzhen. So far, it seems like they’re doing a pretty decent job with this sudden creation. See pics below of SoFun Land (photo credit: Google images).

P.S. For all the artists out there (cough cough nudge nudge, mom), they have an artist residency for international artists in SoFun Land called “Jardin Orange”. Click the link below for more info. Mom, we could be neighbors. Just sayin'...

http://www.chinaresidencies.com/residencies/jardin-orange

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Financial Lab Hibernation.

12/5/2016

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My New Second Home
为了写我的毕业论文

Some of my friends on campus have asked me if I’ve suddenly slipped off the face of the earth. Actually, I’ve been hibernating in the financial lab. My new second home. It's THESIS TIME!

My thesis currently needs my undivided attention, so the financial lab it is. Don't take it personally if I forget to respond to your Wechat message. I still love you. <3

What is my topic? My study examines the moderating effect of cultural dimensions (East versus West) on the relationship between job burnout and turnover intention. I have a long road ahead of me.

Fast internet. Comfy chairs. Double screens. Bloomberg terminals. Total silence. Perfect for nerd mode, I haven’t left my chair for a few days.

Just filling you guys in on the blog during my designated "break times". Don’t worry, you’re built into my schedule.

If you need me, well, you know how to find me. #HibernationMode

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Local Park Discovery...My New Zen Paradise!

12/4/2016

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Shigu Shan Park 石鼓山公园

One of my greatest pastimes in China, well really anywhere for that matter, is walking through charming local parks and people watching. Nothing beats people watching in China. Call me weird, but I prefer to go solo. It’s the best way to pause, unwind, and really connect with nature. Okay, sounds corny, but it’s the truth. I usually play Spotify’s “Zen Meditation” playlist on my headphones for some soft background ambience as I stroll around aimlessly. Instant mood booster.

Just so happens that I live in the ideal place for my park strolling hobby. Shenzhen is full of absolutely beautiful lush parks. I have already checked off nearly every park on Shenzhen’s Trip Advisor page. Some of my favorites include: Lianhuashan Park 莲花山公园, Shenzhen Bay Park 深圳湾公园, Lychee Park 荔枝公园, Shenzhen Central Park 深圳中心公园, and Nanshan Park 南山公园.

Park strolling has previously been regarded as a weekend-only activity due to scheduling and convenience. Not anymore! My life in Shenzhen has positively changed upon my recent discovery of Shigu Shan Park 石鼓山公园 less than a ten-minute walk from my doorstep.

I have gone to Shigu Shan Park every morning subsequent to this exciting discovery. If only I knew about this park when I was training for last year’s Great Wall Marathon! It is the perfect place for stair training.

I decided to take you all along with me for my morning stroll. I hope you enjoy the Zen vibes as much as I do!

My morning meditation platform. PERFECTION.

At the peak of of the mountain!

Stairs. Stairs. Stairs.

Watch out for SNAKES! 小心！

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The Singapore Sundown Marathon

12/1/2016

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Singapore, here I come!

我准备跑新加坡的马拉松

What’s new in the running world? Still going strong. I try to make sure I always have a race to look forward to. Why am I so race addicted? 1) They are great fun and can be enjoyed wherever you reside in the world, including China! 2) They keep me motivated and encourage me to stick to a flexible workout schedule (I like structure). 3) Races are incredibly uplifting, make you feel like you can conquer the world, bring people together despite their differences, and provide the ultimate inspiration for testing your body’s limits. 4) They’re a fantastic way to get an overview of a new city and take in the local vibes, one step at a time.

Okay, my list could go on forever, but I will stop here. Oh wait, and 5) I need to complete more races than my dad (I believe I’m still behind, ugh)…Nothing like a little healthy father-daughter competition, right? ;)

So, what’s the next race on my Google calendar? The Singapore Sundown Marathon on March 25th (I may switch to the half marathon, still TBD…We shall ask my knees how they feel in a few weeks)…

In case you need a little refresher, here is Singapore on the map. I also showed you where Singapore is relative to Shenzhen. You're welcome :)

Yes, the race is IN SINGAPORE! I'll be going to Singapore for the first time, woo woo. I've already decided that 2017 is going to be a year full of bucket list checking. If anyone has been to Sinagpore, I would love your travel recommendations (email me!) This will also be my first ever nighttime race. The race STARTS at midnight (as in, wayyyy past my bedtime) and will take runners through the neon-lit streets of Singapore. Awesome, right? I’m totally stoked. However, as someone who has struggled to stay awake past 9pm her entire life, this may post a bit of a challenge. The pre-race adrenaline rush I typically experience should (hopefully) keep me awake. Otherwise, pre-race Starbucks perhaps?

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Happy Birthday, Harsh! :)

11/17/2016

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Happy Birthday, Harsh! 祝你生日快乐！

On November 17th, we had an excuse to put our party hats on – feast, laugh, and be merry. The Shenzhen gang came together to celebrate our good pal (and my neighbor) Harsh’s birthday.

It’s common to celebrate birthdays in China with birthday noodles 生日面, which symbolize a long life. I guess we slipped in the friend department (Sorry, Harsh! Maybe next year!) because Harsh didn’t get any birthday noodles, oops. We did, however, dine family-style at a neighborhood favorite – a northern-style Chinese restaurant. Nom nom.

Harsh's birthday meal!

Once we were all deep in our food comas and about to burst, we continued the celebration with “Western” birthday cake in front of our apartment. If you have ever tried cake in Chinatown, you might be able to relate to my use of the “. For the most part, desserts in China always look incredibly appealing. Yet, when you bite into them, they tend to taste like sweet fluffy air…Anyone ever experience this? Yeah, it’s totally deceiving. Every time. Harsh’s triple layer chocolate encrusted birthday cake was no exception. #ThoughtThatCounts. My advice: stick to China's savory food and local specialties. It's delicious!

Our group of friends truly celebrates cultural diversity. Pictured below, we represent America, the Philippines, Tunisia, and India. In the group photo above, we also reppresent Latvia, Zimbabwe, Korea, the UK, and Taiwan.

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Shenzhen's Metro Just Keeps Getting Better

11/15/2016

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Shenzhen's metro Updates
深圳地铁

Shenzhen gets better and better every day. Exciting update: There are now TWO new metro lines (line 7 and line 9) right next to my apartment in Xili. Even more, one of the metro lines goes DIRECTLY to the Hong Kong border. Now, how cool is that?! I can now commute to the Hong Kong border crossing in one straight shot from my doorstep. Life is good.

In case you weren’t aware, Shenzhen is developing like crazy. The Shenzhen metro is no exception. Take a look at the two maps of the Shenzhen metro below. The first map shows Shenzhen’s metro when I first arrived 2.5 years ago. The second map shows what Shenzhen’s metro will look like in the next few years. The progress is already pretty unreal. This city is transforming before my eyes!

Photo-bombed on Shenzhen's new line 7! 哎呀！

Shenzhen's metro map when I arrived in 2014...

Shenzhen's metro map in the next few years...

If only NYC subways were kept this squeaky clean, huh? Sometimes I think the floor of the Shenzhen metro might be more sanitary than half the restaurant tables I eat off of in China. Not kidding.

#Selfie

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Let the Thesis Fun Begin!

11/12/2016

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Thesis Writing Has Commenced 毕业论文

Meet Professor James Yen’s thesis advisees! In case you can’t find me, I am the one with the blonde hair. In order to kick off thesis writing season, Professor Yen (from Taiwan) treated all his advisees to an elegant and DELICIOUS Sichuanese dinner in Shenzhen’s posh OCT Bay.

Live music. Appetizers. Cocktails. Endless entrees. Mind-blowing dessert.

The evening was a huge success. It was also a great opportunity to bond with my fellow Chinese classmates and motivate each other to buckle down. I know I certainly needed the jumpstart.

(FYI: Professor Yen is the man in the back with the white shirt and glasses).

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Moped Taxi Fail...

11/9/2016

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My Visit To Xili People's Hospital西丽人民医院

Oops! I was on my way to campus to take my very last business school exam EVER. In an effort to get to school early in order to have enough time to do some last-minute financial accounting cramming, I hopped on the back of a moped taxi. Moped taxis dodge all the traffic, getting you to campus in record time.

My moped man was doing an excellent job of weaving in and out of the congested morning traffic until a bus came out of nowhere, forcing him to make a sharp turn. I gracefully flew off the back of the moped and landed headfirst on the cement sidewalk. Moped man, freaking out that a foreigner just got flung off of his moped, shoved me into the next available cab and ordered the cab driver to take me to the nearest hospital: Xili People’s Hospital 西丽人民医院.

It was a miracle. I am extremely grateful that my moped accident did no real damage other than a minor concussion. Clearly, I was functioning well enough, considering I was snapping blog pics my entire hospital stay! I just wanted to give you all a glimpse of my local hospital…See, I’m even thinking of you guys when I’m concussed. Now that’s love.

In case you were wondering, yes, I was able to make-up my financial accounting exam a few days later. I aced it. And yes, I learned my lesson. No more moped taxis.

I bet you can't find my name on the CT Scan display...

The doc checking out my brain...All is good. Now I have a souvenir to hang on my window. Brain art. #SilverLining

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OCT Bay Reunion

11/8/2016

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Shenzhen Reunion With My Chinese Professor
李老师

Reunited after...eight years! (Wow, I feel kind of old). It was not even a planned reunion...We literally collided as we were both taking an afternoon stroll in Shenzhen's OCT Bay. I thought the Chinese lady I ran into looked somewhat familiar. Turns out I was right! Small world. From NYC to Shenzhen, what are the odds of that totally unplanned run-in?!

...A Chinese-style reunion obviously wouldn't be complete without a few photos, so here you go! If I were really Chinese, I would have included a little peace sign. Once in a while, it's nice to have a "normal" photo.

A tour of Shenzhen's OCT Bay 欢乐爱安

Here are some photos of Shenzhen's ridiculously modern and Epcot-like OCT Bay 欢乐海岸. Kind of hard to believe that this is China sometimes. A nice contrast to Beijing's Forbidden City, eh? That's Shenzhen for you! Now one of China's wealthiest cities and a Special Economic Zone, Shenzhen continuously wows visitors with its cutting edge theme parks, thriving night clubs, trendy art zones, hi-tech hubs, and contemporary skyscrapers popping up left and right. If you're an entrepreneur looking to do business in China, Shenzhen is without a doubt the place to be.

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#STUDENTLIFE Dining at Tsinghua's canteen

11/4/2016

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Tsinghua University Graduate School's campus is part of Shenzhen's University Town or 深圳大学城. In other words, I have access to all of Tsinghua's facilities, including their canteens and 24/7 convenience store (which sells several Western products, including Nutella, Dove deodorant, and Tide to-go sticks!) Um, kind of a big deal...Don't take these Western comforts for granted.

Thought I would try a change of scenery and explore their vegetarian dinner options. I didn't exactly blend in so well in this canteen, but I guess that's really nothing new. Blonde hair is kind of tricky to hide in this country. During my solo dinner date, I made several Wechat friends with Tsinghua students!

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Diwali or Halloween?

10/31/2016

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HAPPY DIWALI! 万圣节前夕快乐！

With Diwali and Halloween happening on the same weekend, I was forced to make a choice. Which would it be? If Halloween as a 27 year-old still meant filling up an entire pillowcase with Milkyway bars, I might have chosen Halloween. However, these days, an Indian feast with my best pals definitely wins.

NOTE: Bollywood Cafe (宝莱坞印度餐厅) has the absolute best Indian food in Shenzhen, maybe even in all of Southern China. My Indian friend, Harsh, can attest to this!

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Happy Golden week!

10/4/2016

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HAPPY GOLDEN WEEK, 朋友们!

What is "Golden Week"?

In case you’re not quite up to speed with holidays in China, I’ll do the honor of filling you in. Chinese National Day is celebrated annually on October 1st to commemorate the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). China pride and propaganda fills the air. This 7-day holiday spans from October 1st to 7th and is referred to as “Golden Week”. The photos below offer you a small but authentic taste of the nationalism saturating my neighborhood in Xili. The first wall art photo “爱国” (ai guo) means to “love one’s country”. The second photo portraying a civilian returning money to a police officer reads “诚信” (cheng xin) meaning “sincerity; trust; honesty.” Chinese flags protrude from all the lampposts and trees on nearby 366 Street and hang from storefronts.

Golden Week Warning:

Who doesn’t appreciate the occasional week-long escape from the daily grind of school / work? However, if you’re looking to travel within the Mainland during Golden Week, BEWARE. I strongly urge you to consider traveling outside of Mainland China. Well, that is unless you want to completely lose your mind and your sanity. I have extensive Golden Week traveling experience (including Huangshan Mountain, Yangshuo, Emei Mountain in Sichuan, the Great Wall, Luoyang in Henan Province), and I want to kindly warn you that traveling during Golden Week is anything but golden. It’s complete and utter chaos. It’s downright MADDENING. If your travel opportunities are limited and you’re only in Asia for a short period of time, then sure, just go for it. Make sure you keep a very close eye on your belongings! Especially that new iPhone 7 hanging out of your pocket! Featured below are some photos I found online (I am not taking any credit for these) depicting Golden Week 2015 at some of China’s most popular tourist destinations. I hope they give you a better idea of the craziness. See, I really wasn’t kidding…

recent SNAP SHOTS 深圳生活

Student Life Updates

Just a little update reporting live from Peking University HSBC Business School…

Class Update:

I still have five more weeks of my Financial Accounting course. So far, so good. My next big exam takes place the day after Golden Week (eek!), so I’ve been devoting a few golden days to some Starbucks hibernation in order to study merchandising operations & the multiple-step income statement, reporting & analyzing inventory, and reporting & analyzing receivables. Don’t be too jealous.

Thesis Update:

Um, yeah, let’s talk about this more on my next monthly update. Or maybe the one after that. Ok, cool. (Don’t worry, it’s coming along…)

Daily Commute Update:

Last month I told you guys I was commuting from my apartment to campus via Uber. Not anymore. Times have changed. I have found an economical alternative that comes with a significantly greater adrenaline rush. Better yet, this option provides the ultimate cultural immersion experience. That’s what I’m here for anyways, right?

你好 from my morning commute! :)

…Dad, I know I didn’t exactly support your motorcycle ownership initially, but now I totally get it. #LikeFatherLikeDaughter

Postal System at a Glance

Several of you have inquired about my mailing address and the desire to send me a care package. While I am deeply flattered (really, many thanks), I want to provide you with a glimpse of China’s postal system when it comes to “efficient” package delivery. Perhaps these recent photos I snapped of package sorting in my neighborhood will help you fathom my reluctance when it comes to mailing me gifts. Hey, it’s the thought that counts.

Health & Fitness

New Concoctions:

Perhaps you are aware that I have a slight (totally irrational) fascination with “superfoods”. I’m a big fan of natural healing concoctions (when they’re safe and appropriate) and am also admittedly an easy target for marketing campaigns that advertise products bursting with vitamins and antioxidants. Fortunately, I live in the right country for ultra-cheap goji berries and antioxidant infused herbal concoctions.

I’ve discovered a few traditional Chinese medicine establishments that I visit on a fairly regular basis in order to calm my sometimes moody digestive tract. I’m still hesitant to fully replace modern meds with my prescribed concoctions of crushed herbs/berries/flowers/citrus peels/etc., but I feel like Super Woman after I sip my fancy Chinese blends. Thus, placebo effect or not, I am going to continue this practice for my own personal gratification. Check out my latest collection below!

New Running Routes:

As I told you last month, my best pal Fortune is studying Chinese at nearby Shenzhen Polytechnic University. I’ve been running around her campus in the morning as part of my running loop, so I decided to take you along for the views and so you can have a peak at my peaceful morning routine. Pretty Zen, huh? I also included a map of my 6-mile route so you can see where I disappear to at 5:30am.

Does Pool Count as a Sport?

Check out our newfound neighborhood discovery. Apparently Cue’s is where all the cool kids hang and play pool. I actually don’t play any pool whatsoever (air hockey is more my thing), but I accompanied my friends (and neighbors) Harsh and Fin and did some pool cheerleading.

Meet Your Future Spin Instructor:

I may not be a pool player, but I AM now in the process of training to become a spinning instructor. Ya know, those crazy people at the front of a stationary bike class who yell the commands, model the correct form and dance moves, and blast upbeat / motivational toons (in my case, Chinese rap) to get you totally pumped while sweating a river in a room full of neon lights? Yeah, that will (hopefully) be me. I’ve recently committed to a 16-week training course to obtain my spinning certification (in Chinese). Have I completely lost my mind? We shall see. The last class I learned how to properly setup the bikes (adjusting the seats, handle bars, etc.) and learned the Chinese commands for changing positions and speed on the stationary bikes. What in the world have I gotten myself into?! I love every minute of it.

A Little Pampering...

I am not even going to try to pretend that I’m not a firm believer in self-care and occasional pampering. Who isn’t?!

“Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.”

"Taking good care of YOU, means the people in your life will receive the best of you, rather than what’s left of you.”

…So, I don’t feel guilty treating myself to a five-dollar pedicure. It fits within my student budget.

I found a mani/pedi salon right next to the big pedestrian street (366大街) near my apartment, woohoo! Although it’s not exactly 5-star (2-star might even be a bit of a stretch), it’s clean (enough) and the owner, Flower (Oh my, I love self-assigned English names in China), is very welcoming. Engaging in girly gossip with Flower is also great colloquial Chinese practice ;) I can rationalize anything.

Food, Drinks, & Friends

Obviously, no blog post could ever be complete without including the friends who make China feel like home. (I love you all SO much!) Here’s a peep at what the crew has been up to these past few weekends…

Michael's Bday (Korean Food in OCT):

TAPS Brew Pub in Hou Hai

Dancing & Drinks at The Terrace in SeaWorld

Palestinian / Tunisian Dinner (Chef Rasha)

What a special treat! My dear friend (Rasha) cooked us up a feast and had us all over for dinner in her dorm room. It was DELICIOUS!

Korean Restaurant in Central, Hong Kong

The perfect post hike meal with Fortune after completing Dragon’s Back trail in Hong Kong

New Sushi Restaurant in the Neighborhood

Not only does this new find offer cheap and somewhat tasty conveyor belt sushi in a convenient location (around the corner from my apartment), but it's also made complete with absurdly random Michael Jackson decorations, fluorescent lighting, and a highly entertaining collection of flawed English translations…Don’t you just love “delicate dises with hinfinite charm”? ;) Oh China…

New Campus Canteen...非常好吃！

A brand new canteen just opened next to the dormitories at Peking University. Surprisingly, it's actually really awesome! The canteen is also squeaky clean and closely resembles an IKEA showcase. This obviously makes me a big fan.

Neighborhood Grazing

(He has no idea what his t-shirt says...)

HIKING DRAGON'S BACK 爬山

The best hiking in Hong Kong...

A few weekends ago, Fortune and I decided to finally hike Dragon's Back in Hong Kong. It was a perfect day. Perfect weather. Perfect company. Pure joy. I highly recommend Dragon's Back if you're ever in Hong Kong! It's not too rigorous and can be completed in around four hours. Unlike the vast majority of trails in Mainland China, it's not overly crowded and gives off peaceful vibes, free of the selfie-stick madness you tend to see on my side of the border.

Well, that concludes my monthly update! Thinking of you all and wishing everyone lots of health and happiness. Feel free to fill out the comment box below to leave any comments, future suggestions, or just to say hello! (NOTE: Comments will be forwarded to my personal email).

XOXO,

Allie 何爱俐

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year # 5, here we go!

9/10/2016

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Welcome back to the FIFTH YEAR EDITION of the China blog. Year three in Shenzhen is already off to a fabulous start. New friends from around the globe, new neighborhood, new apartment, new classes, new running routes...I have a lot to share with you, so sit back and let me take you on a tour!

FIRST STOP: Welcome to Xili

I’ve transitioned off campus and now live in a studio apartment in the town of Xili (see map below). I absolutely love love love it here. Only one stop on the metro from University Town (Peking University’s metro stop), I can bike to campus in 15 minutes. If it’s pouring rain or I am simply not in the mood to dodge moped traffic and sweat through all of my clothes (it’s 90 degrees with 95% humidity), I can also take a $1 Uber to campus. Living off campus not only allows for increased independence, far superior dining options, my own washing machine (those of you who are familiar with my quirky laundry obsession understand that this is a pretty big deal), and a more diverse social life, but it is also encouraging me to view Shenzhen from a different angle. While I certainly made an effort to take weekly excursions and fully immerse myself in Shenzhen these past two years, Shenzhen just seems more exciting when you’re not confined to a dormitory/campus lifestyle. I no longer observe the city as an outsider. I’m now part of the city’s bustle. I’m a local. Well, almost.

Below are some photos of Xili’s popular pedestrian street (“366 Street” or “366 大街”). Only a 2-minute walk from my apartment, 366 is lined with restaurants and has all your basic necessities (including a movie theatre and multiple karaoke joints). In daylight, locals can be spotted sitting around 366 playing games, napping, and shopping. The commotion doesn’t stop. All ages can be seen dancing in the street well past midnight. I’ll be sure to join them once I can learn their fancy dance moves. Maybe by next week. Stay tuned.

A few minutes’ walk in the opposite direction from 366 Street is Starbucks, Shenzhen Polytechnic University, and a convenient metro station (Liuxiandong Station). My best pal (Fortune) is taking Chinese classes at Shenzhen Polytechnic, so it’s nice to have her nearby!

SECOND STOP: Welcome to my apartment on Shigu Road (“石鼓路”)

My apartment is nothing fancy, but it could not be any more perfect. It is so…ME. Cozy. Zen. Clean. Although setting up my room in a timely manner meant experiencing the world’s most chaotic IKEA trip known to man (*Note to self: I am never again going to IKEA on a Saturday afternoon, especially in China), it was well worth it because I feel 100% settled and right at home. As an added perk, my room came with a big flat screen TV that only shows Chinese movies and television. Terrific Chinese practice! Yesterday evening, I watched "Bride Wars" in Chinese. It was...interesting.

The best part of my living arrangement is that I am directly across the hall from two of my best guy friends (Harsh from India and Fin from the UK). My friend Michael (from Michigan) also lives in our building on a different floor. We regularly eat dinner together and share Ubers to/from campus. They are my family away from home. There is also an adorable café / coffee shop on the first floor of our building (with fast Wi-Fi), so I use it as a change of scenery from my usual Starbucks office.

So, what kind of work am I doing in my new coffee shop? Well, apart from working on my thesis (which I will defend in May), I am taking Financial Accounting. While I can’t say that I could ever see myself as an accountant, I am thoroughly enjoying the course. The ability to analyze financial statements to make effective business decisions will surely come in handy no matter what path I ultimately follow. My professor explains the concepts in a very logical and straightforward manner and definitely holds us accountable for new material with daily quizzes, three major exams, and a final group project. If you don’t hear from me for a bit, it’s safe to assume that I am busy nerding out in my coffee shop calculating income statements and writing balance sheets.

THIRD STOP: I brought you to dinner!

My favorite quick and easy go-to lunch / dinner option in China is “malatang”. You can find malatang (spicy numbing Sichuan pepper chili oil soup) all over China and it always works the same way. 1. You are given a basket. 2. You select your veggies / noodles / optional unidentifiable meat 3. The soup and contents are boiled in spicy numbing Sichuan pepper chili oil 4. You select your optional seasoning.

However, I am an outlier and do it my own way because I can’t handle the numbing Sichuan pepper chili oil. Therefore, I usually just select my veggies and tofu and request them to boil it in water, which I then drain and top with green onions, garlic, and ginger. Chinese people always think I am extremely weird for this. They don’t understand how I could possibly enjoy the vegetables without the chili oil. It baffles them every single time. Even after going to my same malatang lady for five consecutive days, my alternative method still brings about confusion and utter shock. “No chili oil?!? Why?!? It will not taste good”. Every. Single. Time.

FOURTH STOP: Meet my friends 朋友

Life is excellent in the social department. I am lucky to have such incredible friends from all around the world in Shenzhen. The past few weekends have been filled with endless entertainment. Last weekend my friends JB and Johnny had a housewarming party at their new apartment. Yesterday, we all went for Chinese BBQ and Karaoke for my friend Amanda’s birthday. Next weekend I have a friend from Shanghai visiting me in Shenzhen. Work hard play hard!

FINAL STOP: My new running route

For the last part of your tour, I took you on my new running route. My new morning running route is a perfect 4-mile loop that goes from my apartment to my university’s campus and back. Running in the mornings makes for great people-watching. School children riding on the back of their parents’ electric bikes, chickens hanging from window fronts to be cooked for lunch, “food trucks” serving morning breakfast dumplings…I took you along to do some people-watching this morning. Enjoy!

That’s all for this week, folks! Back to nerd mode to prepare for my financial accounting exam coming up. Love you all and sending hugs from my new home in Xili. Come visit!

XOXO
Allie 何爱俐

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FAMILY FUN IN THE YANGSHUO COUNTRYSIDE

7/1/2016

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NI HAO family and friends around the globe!

Okay, I know I already pronounced my previous post the “concluding post of the academic year”, but that was before I went on an unbelievable adventure to Yangshuo (see maps below to get your bearings) with my uncle Joel and cousin Coby (and Coby’s awesome cousin, Lindsey). I could not resist…Our trip just NEEDED to make a blog appearance. So (for real), this is my final post before I head back to America…TOMORROW!

JOEL'S FIRST NIGHT IN CHINA

Sunday, June 26th 2016 was a very exciting day here in Shenzhen because not only did I finally decide on (and obtain approval for) my graduate thesis topic (more on that later…), but I also got to greet my uncle Joel at the Shenzhen ferry port – witnessing his very first steps into my homeland in the Mainland. A true honor.

With only ONE night in Shenzhen before meeting Coby and Lindsey in Yangshuo the following morning, we had no time to waste. Although Joel had just spent 20-something long hours traveling (made even longer by the fact that his plane had no working TV screens! Gah!) and was likely disoriented and beyond jet-lagged, we went directly to Pingshan Village for some Chinese BBQ (“shao kao” 烧烤) and Tsingdao beer. Joel got a glimpse of daily life in China as we wove in and out of the alleyways lined with street meat skewers, hanging chickens, fruit stalls, the funky smells of Durian (the SMELLIEST fruit in the universe) mixed with Stinky Tofu (yes, that’s a real thing, not my term), and umbrella-topped mopeds left and right.

No messing around when I am your tour guide.

I made sure that Joel experienced graduate student life in Shenzhen firsthand, the “proper way”. We thoroughly enjoyed our egg fried rice noodles and sticks of seasoned (cumin + garlic + lots of salt?) veggies (I thought avoiding street meat would be the wiser choice, at least for night # 1…)

After some much needed beauty sleep and rejuvenation, I led Joel on a full campus tour before taking the metro to Shenzhen North Station (just three stops away!) to catch the three-hour bullet train (300 km/hr) to Guilin North Station, the closest big city to Yangshuo.

WE MADE IT TO THE MOUNTAIN NEST HOTEL

Upon arriving at Guilin North Station, we were punctually greeted by our driver (conveniently arranged by the hotel). The drive from Guilin North Station to the Mountain Nest Hotel took about 1.5 hours. The hotel was perfect (thanks aunt Debby for the excellent find!) Cozy, clean, Zen, and charming. Joel and I were warmly welcomed by the reception, who kicked off our stay with a traditional Chinese tea ceremony (using Pu’er tea leaves) and a bowl of green tea flavored pumpkin seeds. Nom nom. So tasty.

Soon after we arrived, Coby and Lindsey (who had been traveling throughout China) showed up. A bit grungy after hopping from hostel to hostel in the humidity, their first stop = shower and laundry. Once everyone was freshened up, we headed to the popular (touristy) West Street for our first family-style Chinese feast.

WEST STREET FEASTING AND EXPLORING

West Street, or the touristy neon-lit walking street downtown, is the POLAR OPPOSITE of the Yangshuo countryside. Night clubs and bars blast Beyoncé hits. Neon green lasers bounce off the streets and storefronts. Souvenir shops sell overpriced Mao, jade, and panda bear trinkets. Gelato and “German-style hot dogs” are the go-to snack. While most travelers likely don’t trek all the way to Yangshuo with the intention of taking tequila shots at “Club If”, it’s certainly a fun juxtaposition to the rice terraces and bamboo rafts just a few miles away.

Dinner on West Street was at a Chinese banquet hall style restaurant recommended by the hotel reception (sorry, forgot the restaurant name!). It was…mamahuhu 马马虎虎 ( = my favorite word in Chinese, which means “so-so”). We all agreed that the hotel restaurant had both better cuisine and a better atmosphere. We were pretty ravenous, so even though the food was just mamahuhu, we were ultimately all participants of the Clean Plate Club. We polished off the roasted goose, fish sauce braised eggplant, beef and veggies…Everything but the bland clay pot tofu was demolished.

BREAKFAST WITH A COUNTRYSIDE VIEW

Our first full day in Yangshuo commenced with breakfast at the hotel’s rooftop restaurant, complete with a stunning view of the surrounding countryside. It was already hot and humid by the time we sat down for our 8am breakfast, but the view was too exquisite to relocate to the indoor tables. The breakfast menu offered a full array of both Western and Chinese cuisine. I ordered a big bowl of yogurt with a large assorted fruit plate. Unlike the others, I’ve been in China for a while and was craving something more Western. Coby ordered dumplings (he’s a big dumpling fan!), Joel ordered rice noodle soup topped with boiled eggs, and Lindsey went for the Western style egg combo breakfast. It hit the spot. We were all happy campers and ready for a day full of countryside adventuring.

BIKING ADVENTURES THROUGH THE YANGSHUO COUNTRYSIDE

After we finished our lovely hotel breakfast, we rented bikes from the hotel and began our day of biking in EXTREME (understatement) HEAT. It was HOT. The hotel provided us with a map (arguably the most unreliable / confusing map in existence) and highlighted a bike route that they claimed should take four hours in total. Yeah, okay, maybe for Lance Armstrong on steroids. Who were they kidding?!

Before setting off on our “four-hour” biking adventure, we stopped to grab some emergency road snacks in case food was scarce, or in case there was nothing available besides vacuum-packed honey flavored chicken feet, which would not be all that surprising. Equipped with Oreos, dried sweet potatoes (my favorite), sesame snacks, and nuts, we were ready for the ride!

The first leg of our journey consisted of riding to a “ferry” in order to cross over to a street market in the town of Fuli. All I can say is, it’s a good thing Coby and I speak Chinese. It took quite a bit of direction-asking before we were finally able to locate this so-called ferry. But hey, we found it! And although it wasn’t exactly comparable to Hong Kong’s Star Ferry in size or structure, it did the job and brought us (and our bikes) across the river to Fuli town. NOTE: If you are biking in the Yangshuo countryside without a tour guide and do not speak any Chinese, be prepared to get lost. Signage is often non-existent or contradictory. Just a friendly heads-up!

We made it to the Fuli town street market! I wasn’t kidding when I said West Street was the polar opposite of Yangshuo’s countryside, eh? Fuli town’s market was surely not aimed at tourists. The countryside dentist (pictured below) further reinforces that statement *yikes!*. Although we didn’t purchase anything aside from some cold (Tylenol-flavored) sports drinks for a much needed electrolyte boost, it was eye-opening just strolling through the market and taking in the local flavor. For someone who strives to live a Zen / clutter-free life, the tent full of all the disorganized “junk” you could possibly imagine was a bit overwhelming and cringe-inducing. I was a bigger fan of the fruit and veggie tents, selling a rainbow of all the local and seasonal goodies – bitter melon, lychees, various gourds, eggplant, bok choy…This is the real deal farmers’ market, beat that Whole Foods ;)

We had only been back on our bikes for a short time after the Fuli town street market when we came across a cluster of water buffalo. Obviously we had to stop! They were very friendly. The water they were in though…YUCK. Do you see that icky color?! I wouldn’t exactly want to go swimming in that body of water. Pass.

We continued our bike journey through the hottest part of the day (12-2pm). Even after a brief stop for some cold and refreshing cucumber & vinegar salad and bottled water, our bodies were starting to give in. Heat stroke was becoming a likely outcome. It had already been almost three hours of biking, which, according to the hotel, should mean that our roundtrip journey was soon coming to a close. False. It would take at least another three hours to make it back to the Mountain Nest, according to our first-rate map ;) We couldn’t do it. The heat was too much. We tried hitchhiking, but experienced persistent rejection since we required enough space not only for our four bodies but also our four bicycles.

After an unsuccessful attempt at being picked up by a tour bus full of Chinese tourists, I called the hotel to arrange transportation. Expecting a car with bike racks or perhaps an attached wagon, we were pleasantly surprised by our groovy ride that ultimately came to the rescue. In order to provide top notch comfort, the driver even provided four chairs…Now that’s some serious countryside luxury. Our ride back to the hotel was undoubtedly the correct decision. As we rode back on our mini chairs, sighs of relief filled the air. There’s no way we could have endured more heat. As an added bonus, our driver stopped along the way for photoshoots at popular tourist destinations, including Moon Hill. Although the selfie Lindsey took of us at Moon Hill was far better than the driver’s photography attempt, in which he took 21 photos that ALL had his finger covering the camera…Oops! Thanks anyways, driver.

The long day in the hot sun drained us of energy. After showering and collapsing for an hour, we went back up to the hotel’s rooftop restaurant for dinner. I forced myself to stay awake until 9:30pm and then crashed. I think that was one of the best sleeps I have ever experienced. No joke. Those hotel beds were AMAZING. Take me back.

HIKING ALONG THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE VILLAGES

Our second day in Yangshuo was a hiking and rafting day. Once again, we enjoyed a similar breakfast at the hotel restaurant before asking the reception for hiking trail advice. Unsure if we should trust their judgement after the “four-hour” bike trail recommendation, we had no other choice. Map in hand, we ventured into the countryside for yet another excursion. After some trial and error and repeated direction-asking, we finally found the “blue trail” that we intended to follow. It took us an additional hour just to find the starting path to the trail, but we did it! The rest is history. Fortunately, it was a tad cooler than the previous day. We also made the clever decision to bring along some umbrellas to shield us from the sun. Joel looks pretty nice with that pink cheetah umbrella, huh? It’s a good new look for him.

We walked and talked, taking in all the countryside sights. Only in China do you see people riding a moped across a river! The summer heat didn’t stop the rice farmers working along the rice terraces. Never before had I observed such large construction sites using bamboo as scaffolding. Bamboo sure is one useful and durable plant! We continued walking through the villages and rice terraces until we finally arrived at our bamboo rafting location along the Yulong River.

BAMBOO RAFTING FUN IN THE SUN

Our last stop before our vehicle ride home for the day: an hour of relaxation atop our bamboo rafts. We earned it! The men paddling / steering our rafts were getting the ultimate full body CrossFit workout, while we just lay on the rafts taking endless scenic photos and selfies. The scenery was breathtaking. Every photo I took resembled a postcard. How would I ever decide which of the 311 photos I took in that hour to keep?! Decisions decisions.

OUR FINAL FEAST: THAI / PIZZA / CHINESE / RESTAURANT

After spending another long (adventure-packed) day in the brutal summer heat, we repeated the previous day’s shower & rest-hour routine before planning our final dinner. We had a hard time deciding between the convenient and tasty hotel restaurant or trying something new. Although the hotel restaurant was tempting, we decided to be adventurous. That we were! Joel had talked about a nearby pizza place within walking distance that he claimed he saw during our bike ride. Nobody else saw this pizza place, so we enjoyed pushing his buttons and poking fun at this imaginary “pizza place” in his head. However, to our surprise, he wasn’t entirely wrong…

As soon as we departed the hotel in search of Joel’s “pizza place”, it started raining like crazy. It was raining cats and dogs. We were all freshly showered in clean dry clothes, which were now entirely drenched. All we could do was laugh uncontrollably. We were living it up and going with the flow. Ten minutes later, after sprinting in the rain, we found the restaurant. As Joel had claimed, it DID in fact serve pizza (okay, you win, Joel). However, it ALSO served Thai, Chinese, and “Western” dishes. Although the photos on the menu closely resembled dog food, the Thai food we ordered was actually quite tasty. We polished off the coconut chicken soup, lemongrass beef, green papaya salad, and fried tofu. I don’t have any photos of our quality meal because I was 100% in the moment, cell phone free.

THE BLOG IS GOING ON SUMMER BREAK UNTIL SEPTEMBER...

Well my friends, that concludes our unforgettable adventure in Yangshuo. It was truly an amazing trip, with even more amazing company. I miss my countryside crew already.

Time for me to finish packing my dorm room now…Love you all!

XOXO,

Allie
何爱俐

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My new favorite running spot in Shenzhen: 深圳湾公园 (Shenzhen Bay Park)

6/11/2016

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THE FINAL STRETCH OF THE SCHOOL YEAR

6/9/2016

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HAPPY DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL!

Good morning and happy dragon boat festival!

The dragon boat festival is a traditional holiday in China that commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a poet and minister during the Warring States period of the Zhou Dynasty (thanks, Wikipedia). For more info on the origin and significance of the holiday, go and Google it! How is it typically celebrated? By eating lots of pyramid-shaped dumplings made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves (called 粽子 “zongzi”) and racing dragon boats. Unfortunately, I couldn’t locate any dragon boat races nearby, but I did have some zongzi for breakfast. Well, the Chinese Starbuck’s version of zongzi. Does that count? I included a Googled photo of zongzi (below) to show you what they look like…

THREE WEEK COUNTDOWN UNTIL
THE U.S. OF A.

It’s just about time for summer vacay. With only three weeks left until I head back to the USA and six weeks until a family trip to Iceland (WOOP! WOOP!), I am officially in wrap-up mode and semi checked-out. Okay, more than “semi”, I am beyond checked-out. My mind is already in America, envisioning my first home-cooked meal after nine straight months of greasy canteen gush. Fingers crossed my dad will grill some of his famous salmon for my first meal back (hint hint, nudge nudge). My summer to-dos are already meticulously mapped-out and color-coded on my Gmail calendar. I’ll try to wait one more week to pack my suitcases.

I am ready for a serious China-break; can you tell?! :)

I love you dearly, Shenzhen, but I desperately need to recharge my battery with some Western comforts, family, good friends, and of course my favorite doggie duo (Ella & Charlie). Although it’s nearly impossible to not count down the days until I am home, I am truly making an effort to embrace each and every day left. Whether it be a “productive” day in the library working on my thesis, a walk or run through University Town, or a tasty meal or drinks with friends – every day must be enjoyed and must be lived with a sense of purpose.

“Never allow waiting to become a habit. Live your dreams and take risks. Life is happening now.”

MEDITATIVE MORNINGS...

In order to set a productive and positive tone for each day left and feel a sense of accomplishment, I have been going on a 5:30am jog around campus every morning before it gets unbearably hot and humid. It’s the perfect time to run. The rhythmic sound of cicadas put me in a meditative trance. The rest of the campus still fast asleep, it’s just me and the world (and the maintenance men in their blue uniforms sweeping the streets). I took you all along for a campus tour...

Part two of my morning routine is a newer habit, which I may have to bring with me to America. Instead of the green tea lattes I used to consume, I have switched to a new healthier superfood morning concoction: red date, longan, goji berry, and ginger tea. The library café serves it in a teapot over a hot flame. The zesty ginger provides a great morning wake-me-up kick and the calming aroma helps me de-stress and focus for the day. Below are photos of the outside of our amazing library and my morning brew!

HOORAY FOR LYCHEE SEASON!

One benefit of still residing in Southern China at the moment is the incredible variety of seasonal fruit. Lychees, my all-time favorite fruit (well, I think they’re technically a nut?), can be picked fresh from the trees on campus. As I showed you on the blog last year, the fresh lychee tent on the pathway between the PKU and HIT campuses is already in full swing. I pay a visit to the lychee tent on a daily basis. I’m waiting for the day when I get sick of lychees and can skip on the lychee tent, but it hasn’t happened yet. Lychees every day please!

UNIVERSITY TOWN:
A TOWN WITH ALL THE ESSENTIALS

One perk of living next to Pingshan Village is that any kind of service you could ever imagine can be done in the town…for DIRT CHEAP. Do you need your bike repaired? Need your phone or computer fixed? Need your suit tailored? Your shoes shined? A fake iPhone battery? A haircut, or just a scalp massage? It’s all there. And if for some reason it's not there, well, you can always bribe someone to do it for a small negotiated fee (especially if you have blonde hair and blue eyes and speak fluent Chinese). There’s a hole-in-the-wall repair shop for all your possible needs. One of the many perks of living in China. I needed professional passport photos taken for my upcoming visa renewal, so I visited "the photo lady". The thing is, you have to know about these little service shops via word of mouth because they are easy to miss. My passport photo lady, a tiny shop next to a small watermelon stall, is easy to walk right past unless you’re on a mission to find her. Now that I know she’s there, I send her a little smile and wave whenever I’m in town. A village that I used to view as a filthy chaotic mess reeking of sewage stench now feels strangely homey and cozy. It still reeks of sewage, though...Don't think that is going to change anytime soon. Funny how our perspective changes with familiarity.

“Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change.”

JUST BLENDING IN...NI HAO! 你好！

TIME TO PASS THE PRESIDENTIAL TORCH

The wrap-up of the school year also means the end of my term as International Student (IA) President. It’s time to pass the torch. In order to provide a relaxed space for reflection and closure, the IA had an informal meeting on Wednesday while enjoying some local dim sum in the nearby town of Xili. How often do you guys get to have meetings while dim summing, huh? #ChinaPerks. It was a nice final group get together before we all go our separate ways. The IA members include me, Harsh (India), Evan (Canada), Michael (also America - Michigan), and Fin (UK). Fortunately, it seems like all of this year’s IA members will be living in Shenzhen next year too, so I’ll get to see them regularly.

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”

A QUICK CRASH COURSE FOR YOU NOVICE DIM SUMMERS...

THE "EXCITEMENT" OF THE WEEK

Last but not least, I thought I would share this week’s major excitement with you all. After getting back from my wonderful trip to Macau last Sunday, I got under my bed covers ready for my beauty sleep. My beauty sleep got ugly! A few minutes after snuggling up with my fresh Tide-scented sheets, I started to feel some tickling and squirming. ?!?!?!? It wasn’t just me under those sheets…I was sharing the covers with many little roaches! Ewww. Ewww. Ewww.. Nightmare come true. Extreme panic. I called mom in tears “Emergency! I have roaches in my beddddd!!!!!” My superhero friend, Evan, came to the rescue to help me exterminate my room before I headed to the nearby Vienna Hotel for a more ideal beauty sleep. Evan is such a trooper. He helped me flip over my mattress, thoroughly poison every inch of my dorm room with extra strength Raid spray, brought his fan to help me air-out the toxic fumes, and even helped me to lighten up and laugh at the nightmare of a situation. Thank you, Evan. After three nights at the Vienna Hotel, the school’s campus service center helped me to make sure I was living in clean / safe conditions. I had a fantastic roach-free sleep last night and finally feel rejuvenated!

ROACH-FREE ROOM!

Well, folks, that’s all for now!

...BUT (drumroll please)

In two weeks, my uncle Joel will be coming to Shenzhen and the two of us will be taking the train from Shenzhen to Guilin / Yangshuo to meet up with my cousin Coby and his cousin Lindsey. The four of us will be biking along the rice fields in the serene Yangshuo countryside…Don't worry, it's normal to be jealous ;)

Stay tuned!

XOXO,
Allie 何爱俐

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The diverse and beautiful city of Macau

6/5/2016

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Day 2 of fun in Macau

*Note: please excuse typos. This post was typed and uploaded from my smartphone. It's a live post uploaded directly from the Macau ferry! You are all here with me!

Before boarding the ferry back to Shenzhen this afternoon, we squeezed in a bit more adventuring. We began with a tour of University of Macau. The campus is absolutely stunning! Professor Jin is the Dean of Arts & Humanities at University of Macau and Professor Xu is also a professor in the same faculty. They showed me their teaching building, the magnificent library, and the dormitory buildings. Made me want to get a third Masters so I can study there! Don't worry, I'm heading back to America soon. It was just a fleeting thought.

As senior faculty at the university, Professor Jin and Xu get awesome on-campus housing with a fantastic view of the glistening city across the river and plenty of space (I got my own guest room!) We decided I am going to stay over there in the fall for a few days during the school week and work on my thesis at the University of Macau library. It's a great place to focus without distractions - we already picked out my study corner (nerd alert). One perk of living in Macau as opposed to the Mainland - you can actually access Google and Facebook!

A taste of the city's diverse charm

Macau is primarily known for its extravagant casinos, it is absolutely worth a visit even if you aren't into the gambling scene. I was surprised by the city's diversity - tranquil hiking trails, quaint old fishing villages, historic museums and ruins, a popular black sand beach, beautiful temples, cobble stone walking streets lined with traditional Portuguese architecture, superb cuisine of all kinds - Macau is really a unique place with a very peaceful and relaxed atmosphere. Well, it might be a different story if you're busy gambling away your life savings at the Venetian, but my visit was full of zen vibes. No slot machines for me this time - it's hard to gamble when you're a student already in debt, eek.

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Visiting My Hamilton College Chinese professors in Macau!

6/4/2016

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Just a one hour ferry ride from Shenzhen to get to Macau (aka China's Las Vegas).

Macau is known for its casinos. They are pretty out of this world. The first casino is the Lisboa (the oldest casino in Macau..I think?) The second is the Venetian. It feels like another city inside, complete with an indoor river!

Strolling around the city and taking it all in. Definitely a different flavor than Mainland China! Such a spectacular contrast of the old and new.

Before enjoying some delicious authentic Portuguese cuisine, we stopped at a tavern for some beer. The woman with Professor Xu and me is their former colleague who now teaches Chinese at UVA.

Amazing meal! Clean plate club woop woop!

View from my professors' apartment on the University of Macau campus. What a gorgeous campus!

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the best of beijing street food

5/22/2016

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Special Dedication

This post has a special dedication. A Food Network enthusiast, knowledgeable foodie, and master chef with a passion and curiosity for world cuisine, I hereby dedicate this post full of colorful Beijing street food delicacies to my uncle Harlan. I sincerely hope that one day you and Annie will travel to China and experience some of Asia’s fine cuisine with me. I can’t think of anyone who would appreciate it nearly as much as I know you would. Looking forward to a Harlan meal when I am back in the USA this summer!

Beijing Street Food

After running long distances, it’s especially crucial to eat sufficient protein for muscle repair. What better way to satisfy my protein requirements than some fried scorpion and roaches from the streets of Beijing!

Nah, I already checked that off my bucket list back in 2010. C’mon now, you really think I could have lived in China for four years without sampling fried scorpions on a stick? Please. Don’t worry, the scorpions were immediately followed by a few strong tequila shots to help wash ‘em down. It’s a one-time bucket list kind of undertaking. Check. No need for second helpings.

Instead, I chose the safest pre-traveling option before getting on the plane tomorrow (if that’s even possible when it comes to BJ street food?) Nonetheless, grilled corn seemed like a safe-ish bet. Let’s just cross our fingers that it wasn’t marinated in gutter oil. No, really, that's a thing. If you’ve ever eaten Chinese street food, it’s safe to say you’ve consumed a fair share of gutter oil. I’m no exception. #YOLO

Well, I hope you all enjoy the colorful delicacies of Beijing. Anything calling your name? If I wasn't afraid of being on the toilet for 3 months straight, I would totally dig into those oysters…Sorry, TMI.

"You have to taste a culture to understand it."

"Food is not rational. Food is culture, habit, craving and identity."

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Beijing street food

5/22/2016

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I CONQUERED THE GREAT WALL FOR YOU, LIV!

5/21/2016

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Hi from Beijing :)

GUESS WHAT?! I DID IT!!!!! IT WAS ABSOLUTELY A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

I DID IT FOR YOU, LIV!

I am completely beyond exhausted after waking up at 2:20am (after 1 hour of sleep last night) and conquering the Great Wall, but I’m also feeling really incredible and still coming down from my crazy runner’s high that has lasted all day. Endorphins overload! I feel awesome. I completed the race without any tripping or falling whatsoever. Considering I have no depth perception (literally - I cannot see the difference between a step and flat ground due to a visual impairment - I rely solely on shadows and past experience), the fact that I managed to run a race almost exclusively on steps kind of blows my mind. I tested my limits, that's for sure. I also managed not to walk! (Except for some parts on the Wall where it was necessary to side steps or crawl up/down jagged steps).

It’s only 6pm, eek, but before I crash for the night and devour my second carb-full dinner, I just need to say a few words...

First, thank you for all of your tremendous support and for believing in me. This race was by far the most challenging thing I have EVER completed, and I could not have done it without your encouragement. More importantly, thank you for helping me honor my sister, Liv. I am proud to announce that I have more than quadrupled my fundraising goal of $1000 and ultimately raised $4536 for mitochondrial disease research. Go #TeamLiv! I could not be more grateful for all of your generous contributions. The love you have shown for my sister really means the world to me, and I know she appreciates it too.

I have posted the photos I took during the race in chronological order below in order to help you truly experience the race in my shoes (more like dirty, smelly, sweaty sneakers). ENJOY!

The next adventure marathon on my bucket list - The Polar Circle Marathon October 2018. Anyone in? #TestYourLimits.

Goodnight. XO

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​HAPPY DIWALI! 万圣节前夕快乐！

​HAPPY GOLDEN WEEK, 朋友们!​​

recent SNAP SHOTS 深圳生活​

​HIKING DRAGON'S BACK 爬山

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FIRST STOP: Welcome to Xili

​SECOND STOP: Welcome to my apartment on Shigu Road (“石鼓路”)

​THIRD STOP: I brought you to dinner!

​FOURTH STOP: Meet my friends 朋友

​FINAL STOP: My new running route

JOEL'S FIRST NIGHT IN CHINA

WE MADE IT TO THE MOUNTAIN NEST HOTEL

WEST STREET FEASTING AND EXPLORING

BREAKFAST WITH A COUNTRYSIDE VIEW

BIKING ADVENTURES THROUGH THE YANGSHUO COUNTRYSIDE

HIKING ALONG THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE VILLAGES ​

BAMBOO RAFTING FUN IN THE SUN

OUR FINAL FEAST: THAI / PIZZA / CHINESE / RESTAURANT

THE BLOG IS GOING ON SUMMER BREAK UNTIL SEPTEMBER...

​HAPPY DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL!

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​MEDITATIVE MORNINGS...

​HOORAY FOR LYCHEE SEASON!

​UNIVERSITY TOWN:​A TOWN WITH ALL THE ESSENTIALS

​TIME TO PASS THE PRESIDENTIAL TORCH

​THE "EXCITEMENT" OF THE WEEK

Author

Goodbye China! 再见中国！

#China Moments
我爱中国！

Help, Where am I?
我在哪儿？

My New Second Home
为了写我的毕业论文

Shenzhen's metro Updates
深圳地铁

#Selfie

Thesis Writing Has Commenced 毕业论文

My Visit To Xili People's Hospital西丽人民医院

Shenzhen Reunion With My Chinese Professor
李老师

HAPPY DIWALI! 万圣节前夕快乐！

HAPPY GOLDEN WEEK, 朋友们!

recent SNAP SHOTS 深圳生活

HIKING DRAGON'S BACK 爬山

SECOND STOP: Welcome to my apartment on Shigu Road (“石鼓路”)

THIRD STOP: I brought you to dinner!

FOURTH STOP: Meet my friends 朋友

FINAL STOP: My new running route

HIKING ALONG THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE VILLAGES

HAPPY DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL!

THREE WEEK COUNTDOWN UNTIL
THE U.S. OF A.

MEDITATIVE MORNINGS...

HOORAY FOR LYCHEE SEASON!

UNIVERSITY TOWN:
A TOWN WITH ALL THE ESSENTIALS

TIME TO PASS THE PRESIDENTIAL TORCH

THE "EXCITEMENT" OF THE WEEK